Chapter Twelve

Just then the door behind them slid up and a large figure moved forward. "What is that" Said Crabtree, he was in such a state of shock he had released his quarry.

"The latest product from 'Skylight Electronics' or should I say the last product of X10's warped mind. Highly advanced androids" The Doctor said "Far superior than any simple human organic form."

"Destroy them all" X10 commanded.

The androids looked human with human like features but they had a blank lifeless expression. They walked rather than lumbered but there was an artificial element about their movements their legs moved rigidly and they're stuck their arms out stretched and fingers towards them. The Doctor pulled out his sonic screwdriver and aimed it at them. There was a loud buzzing noise and they began to judder "RUN!" He shouted and they headed for the exit.

They got to the lift and The Doctor pressed the button. However the androids were chasing them. They reached out and grabbed Wallace. "Help Me!" he gasped

"I'm coming" Crabtree yelled and threw himself out through the lift door straight into the mechanical menaces.

As the lift climbed upward loud, terrible screams could be heard "Are they?" Oxford said, The Doctor nodded.

Four robots entered the main chamber where X 10was "We destroyed these two" said one androids that seemed to be in charge

"Dispose of them" X10 rasped "What about the other two, the spy and the one called The Doctor?"

"They got to the lift" the android replied "We can't stop the lift or reach the upper floors" the way the android spoke was robotic and emotionless ""

"Never mind them" X10 said "Return to the factory floor and order the machines to start producing more androids, and tell them to build a screen on the factory floor so I can witness the growth of my army" The android turned and left the room.

"We need to get to the top floor, then I can use this." The Doctor said holding up the pocket watch "to return to safety"

"How is a pocket watch going to get us to safety" agent Oxford replied

"It will" The Doctor insisted "Also what is your name, I mean you're really name. I mean we are both on the same side"

The agent smiled "Rebecca Gibbs, my friends call me 'Becky'."

"Becky" The Doctor replied "Very nice"

"It was a play on my birth name which is Gaby Biggs. A name I hate" Becky said

"Ah wordplay" The Doctor said at that point the door opened on a upper floor. "I knew someone who loved wordplay, now what was his name. Ah yes Shakespeare. William Shakespeare."

"You met William Shakespeare?" Becky said smiling

"Yeah, helped him finish 'Hamlet' whilst battling three haggard old witches. I also fought gas like ghosts with Charles Dickens and a vicious swamp monster with H.G. Wells. Tried to pay a visit on James Joyce too, but he's never been one for social visits." The Doctor said. Looking around. "This must be the top floor, to get back to the Skybase we need to get onto the roof."

"What is the Skybase?" Becky enquired

"Our way out of here, once aboard we can put as much distance between us and X10 as we can."

They found a fire exit and managed to get the door open. Outside was a balcony with steps leading down to the ground floor. They were about five floors up. "Hang on to me" The Doctor said taking out the watch. He pressed the plunger three times and they disappeared.

Down on the factory floor the machines were working at their fullest capacity and more androids were being built, programmed and tested. Down in his main quarters X10knew, "soon" he said "soon, I will be able to bring this feeble planet and it's simple race to the brink of extinction. This time I'll be the one doing the shutting down. Now build the aerial on top of the factory so I can obtain total command"